WHO-Gates Foundation donates more anti-rabies vaccines to Iloilo
The World Health Organization-Bill and Melinda Gates (WHO-BMG) Foundation has donated additional vials of canine anti-rabies vaccine to the Province of Iloilo through the Department of Health-Center for Health Development 6.
Provincial Veterinarian Silvino Teodosio Jr. said the latest delivery of the 2,719 vials of Rabisin Vaccine completes the full requirement of the province to immunize at least 70 percent of its domestic dog population.
In 2009, Iloilo province has a dog population of 278,839, of which 70 percent has been targeted for immunization by the Provincial Veterinary Office through the assistance of the WHO-Gates Foundation that has a five-year program on rabies control and elimination.
The program, now on its second year of implementation, provided the PVO last May the first 15,615 vials of anti-rabies vaccines.
Teodosio reported that through the first batch of vials, they were able to accomplish 60 percent in their mass vaccination campaign.
As agreed, the WHO-BMG will provide Rabisin Vaccine for the targeted 70 percent dog population only, with the remaining 30 percent to be answered by the municipal governments.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said the assistance of the WHO-BMG is really a big help for the province in eliminating its problem on rabies.
He said the additional vials of vaccines will be allocated by the provincial government to each municipality in the province.*PNA
